Health Information & Quality Authority (HIQA)

Background

  • A key policy aim of the National Health Strategy, Quality and Fairness: A Health System for You, published in November 2001, is to deliver high quality services that are based on evidence-supported best practice. The Strategy recommended that the Health Information & Quality Authority (HIQA) should be established to advance this aim.

  • The Government decision regarding the Health Service Reform Programme announced in June 2003 approved the establishment of a Health Information & Quality Authority.

  • The National Health Information Strategy (NHIS) launched in July 2004 adopted a high level approach to health information requirements and the actions needed to deliver the necessary improvements. The establishment of the HIQA will play a pivotal role in the implementation of the NHIS with the Authority having lead responsibility on 20 of the 27 action areas set out in this strategy.

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Role of the HIQA

The establishment of the HIQA represents an important step in the continued development of a high quality, safe and effective health care system which will provide a better service for patients.

The objective and functions of HIQA will be set out in primary legislation intended to be published during 2006. The HIQA will promote delivery of health and personal social services based on practices that evidence has shown produce high quality, effective and efficient results by:

  • ensuring the services provided in the health system meet nationally agreed standards, both at clinical and managerial level; and
  • assessing whether health and personal social services are managed and delivered to ensure the best possible outcomes within available resources.

HIQA's responsibilities will cover the following areas:

  • Developing health information systems
  • Promoting and implementing structured programmes of quality assurance
  • Reviewing and reporting on selected sets of services
  • Overseeing accreditation
  • Developing health technology assessment

The Irish Health Services Accreditation Board and the National Cancer Registry will be streamlined into the HIQA following its establishment.

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interim Authority

On 11 March, 2005 the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children established the interim Authority to prepare the administrative and organisational plans for the establishment of the HIQA. Its functions include:

  • Scoping out the staff and financial requirements for the HIQA.
  • Preparing a high level organisation design for the HIQA, including integrating the functions and staff of the National Cancer Registry and the Irish Health Services Accreditation Board into the HIQA.
  • Establishing appropriate procedures and structures to ensure proper governance and accountability for the HIQA.